So how did last week go for you? Did you take time to really dig in the Word? We already said that God was creative and we even listed things He made, but in what other ways was He creative? You can see His creative nature by looking at all the kinds of animals He made, the plants, and even the colors that He used. Go find your journal and take a few moments to be creative! In what ways are you creative or talented? Find pictures to cut out, draw, or write, but make this page all about the things you do.
What things did you write down? Did you write things like singing, playing instruments, writing, or art? What about things like:
Public Speaking Networking
Research Marketing
Graphics Photography
Woodworking Video Creation
Website design Jokes / Humor
Trouble-shooter Foreign Language
Teaching / Training Negotiating Skills
Planning Story Telling
Magic Computers / IT
Some of the things listed above are talents or skills while others show creativity. Have you listened to someone tell a story and just wanted them to shut up? Instead they just went on and on and on? Yep, storytelling is a talent. Creating a website –talent. I’ve done research and that takes serious skill. Certainly we grow in our talents, but we are each given talent. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you don’t have any. Just as you were created to be beautiful, you were created with talent.
Go read Matthew 25:14-30 then grab your journal. Write down your thoughts regarding the parable? Why was the master so angry? After all, he didn’t lose anything. The other servants made extra and in the end the master still had more than he started with. Why get so annoyed at the one that saved the talent?
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
Could it be the master was angry because the servant hid it out of fear? I wonder what God thinks when He looks at us and sees all the talent that we have and not only do we not work to increase it and get better, but we flat out hide it? If we’re honest with ourselves this is basically how the conversation with God goes.
Me: God, I love you. Really, but this that you gave me well, I’m not sure I can do it.
God: Aren’t I all knowing?
Me: Of course you are!
God: Then wouldn’t I know if you could do this?
Me: Uh, umm, I mean…
God: Either I’m all knowing or I’m not.
Me: You are and I know you are. It’s just I don’t know that I can do it.
God: I know you can.
Me: (Reluctantly) You’re right, if you say I can, I can.
While we vocalize that God is right, the next thing we know the talent is being hid because of fear. No matter how we slice it hiding what God has given us is never a good idea. I don’t think I’ll ever understand how we think we know better than the Creator. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that isn’t what we think we are doing. When we take away all of the justifications we’ve given, then all we are really left with is us telling God we can’t when He very plainly says we can.
When we have a talent, it’s important to use it. It is just as important to nurture it and allow it to grow into something more. Grab your journal again and see if you can add any additional talents to your list. They might not be well developed talents, yet, but they can be.
In the parable, not only did the others not hide the money, but they nurtured it and it grew. Think of a person you know that seems they can do anything. How many of those things were simply God given talent as a reward for using the one or two talents originally given to them? Notice in the scripture the master says: “thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things.”? When we use the talents God has given He gives us additional talents to use for His glory. The master called the servant that hid the talent wicked and slothful. Why would God give more talents and abilities to someone wicked and slothful?
If Jesus were standing before you in person right now and He begin to list the talents that were given to you would He say you were faithful or slothful? God didn’t just give you talents for you to look good. He gave them for His glory. I can just hear people now: but I don’t sing or I don’t play any instrument, how can God use my talent?
I heard of a family that lived near a major hospital. This family opened their home to strangers that had come from out of town with their family. They allowed them to come nap, spend a few minutes away from the hospital with a warm cup of coffee, or even take a hot bath. There are people in this world that just make you feel comfortable and at ease when you are with them.
Are you great at math? What about helping tutor someone? Are you handy? Have you considered making time to help fix things at your local church building or offering to help those around you that can’t afford to hire someone? Perhaps you’re a photographer. Is your church looking for a fundraiser, a church directory, or just need photos taken at your events? At every church dinner are people running to your dishes first? You would be perfect to help prepare meals for grieving families at a dinner after a funeral. Are you great at couponing or budgeting and know of someone that would benefit from your teaching? Ask your pastor if you could offer a class at church. Regardless of your skill, there is something for you to do.
This week see if you can find any talents for people in the
Bible. It may seem hard at first, but you can do this! Do you think they used
their talent well? During prayer this
week make sure to listen. Listening is just as important as speaking to God.
Ask God to show you how He wants you to use your talents. While you’re at it
you may want to ask for strength because what He ask isn’t always easy for us.